Thompson served one full term, from 2008 to 2012. The board presented Thompson with a gift of appreciation at Monday’s meeting.

Thompson had members of board and the audience in a combination of laughter and tears as he said goodbye and thanked his family for allowing him to serve on the board.

“First, thank you to my family. To my wife Shannon, who never signed up for the turmoil and the hecticness and sometimes even nastiness that comes along with elected service. For your grace and forgiveness when people stopped you in parking lots, in grocery stores, at where you work, and even in our neighborhood to tell you what a bum and a jerk your husband was. For them, I apologize and to you, I say thank you,” Thompson said.

“To my boys, Cole and Mason,…you guys have no memory of your father being anything but an elected official and so, for all the baseball games and sporting events that I missed, for the evening meals when I wasn’t there, and especially for the goodnight kisses that I didn’t deliver, I apologize and I thank you for your understanding.”

“Don’t be a Zode, be a leader. There will always be those who criticize you, who tell you how you could have done better, what they would have done, but always do your best,” Thompson said. “I leave here tonight knowing that that’s what I did — my very best.”

Catlin officially resigned at the end of the meeting. Catlin was elected to the N.C. House in November and said he felt he must resign at this time because of time constraints.

“I am not leaving the citizens of New Hanover County. I will continue to work to solve our problems,” Catlin said. “There are many statewide positions, but I will always be a New Hanover County commissioner at heart.”

Catlin was also presented with a gift of appreciation at the meeting.

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About This Blog

Watchful eyes on government and politics in the Cape Fear region, with a focus on government spending. Raleigh bureau reporter Molly Parker, city of Wilmington reporter Julian March and New Hanover County reporter Ashley Withers contribute to this blog.